TUNIS: Tunisia’s election commission says an 88-year-old former government minister has won the presidential runoff with 55.68 percent of the vote.

The election of Beji Caid Essebsi, whose party dominated legislative elections back in October, completes Tunisia’s democratic transition after the overthrow of its dictator in 2011.

Outgoing interim President Moncef Marzouki received 44.32 percent of the vote, election commission chief Chafik Sarsar said.

The European Union congratulated the veteran politician which it called a “historic” milestone on the country’s path to democracy.

“Tunisians have written a historic page in the country’s democratic transition,” EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini said in a statement.